Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,421, Edward Foster, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Foster, Edward
NUMBER
8.30.421
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

See letter to Mrs. Davis Boston July 15. 1833 G.C.
Si Norfolk Aug 31-1834
15620  Massachusetts
Edward Foster
Norfolk co in the State of Mass who was a Pvt. in the Company commanded by Captain Prinn of the Regt. commanded by Col. Snodgrass in the War of time for 8 months & 23 days March 1 " 19 " " Aug. 3
Enrolled on the Roll of Massachusetts the rate of 35 - Dollars - 72 - Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of July 1833 and Seal of Abel Hushing Secretary of Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $71.44 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 17.86  $89.30
{ Revolutionary Claim; } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Williamson Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 3a Page 25

Mr. Bussy Sep -

I Samuel Hinsley Glover of Milton in the County of Norfolk. Great being of legal abil- -ity to give evidence do testify & say that, in the Summer of the year 1775 - I was knowing that Mr. Edward Foster now an applicant for a pension was stationed at Roxbury in Capt. Pines company & that he was an entire stranger in it. I belonged to the same company & did duty in it for six or eight weeks. I have known him ever since, & can say that he is a man of truth & that his declara- tion on oath can be depended on -
Dorchester Aug 1 st - 1832
Saml H Glover Norfolk ss August 15 th 1832 Subscribed & sworn to before me. & I hereby certify that said Samuel H Glover is a man of veracity. S el and Judg. Probate
Dorchester August 14 th 1832 This certifies that Mr. Edward Foster the son of Timothy and Abiel Foster was born in the town of Dorchester County of Norfolk State of Massachusetts March 22 1752 as it stands recorded on Dorchester town records. A true copy from Dorchester records
Attest - Thomas J. Tolman Town Clerk

Dr Gwynn Sep -
1880
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a formal letter.]

I John Bussey of Dorchester in the County Norfolk Esq. being of legal ability to give evidence do testify & say that I am eighty one years of age & that in the year seventeen hundred & ninety nine I was in the Militia service being enlisted for eight months - & was enrolled in Capt Thos. Pin- company & was commissioned as a first Lieut in the same I commenced service about the first of May of that year & was dismissed about the first of June 1796 - In the same company Mr. Ed- -ward Foster now in affidavit for a pension served as a serg't & he was in it until the term of enlistment was out which was at the time above and I further testify that he was a good & brave soldier & hon- orably served out his time - That I have never since been any way connected with him & that he is a man of truth
Dated at Dorchester this 15 th day of August - 1832 - John Bussey
Norfolk ss August 15 th 1832 Subscribed & sworn to before me, & I hereby certify that said John Bussey is a man of veracity. P. Leland Judge of Probate
Attest - Thomas J. Tolman Town Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Oct. 25 1832.
* hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that The name of Edward Foster is found upon a Muster-roll of Capt Thomas Paine's Company in Col Gridley's Reg't & is therein stated to have served in the capacity of a Sergeant for the period of three months & one day from the eighth of May to the ninth of August 1775 - I further certify that no other roll of said Paine's Company is to be found for the year 1775
The name of Edward Foster is found upon the following Pay rolls (Viz), Capt Hall's Hopkinton Hall's in Col Lemuel Robinson's Reg't for the period of twenty three days commencing January twenty ninth 1776 (as a private & upon Capt Lieutenant William Foster, in the capacity of a Sergeant Col Paine's Reg't (in the capacity of a sergeant) for the period of thirty nine days commencing March first 1776
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of March A. D. 1778, to the seventh day of April A. D. 1778 - 1 - mv - gds. as a Sergeant - in the Massachusetts Militia that he was residing at Dorchester aforesaid when he entered the service; that he was a recruit drafted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Lieut Wm. Foster & Col. Paine's Reg't. that he marched from said Dorchester to Boston where he was stationed : that he served with other Militia of the regular troops; and regular officers was known to him; that he was in no battle that at the end of his service he received a discharge and but not in writing - and left the service on said 7th of April

County of Norfolk - ss. On this twenty seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the County of Probate - now sitting at Roxbury in and for said County, Beth and Foster a resident of Dorchester in said County, aged eighty - years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at said Dorchester on the twenty second day of March A. D. 1752, and that there is a record of his birth in the town clerk's office in said Dorchester ; that he was in the United States service from the eighth day of May - A. D. 1775, to the eighth day of January A. D. 1776 - as a private - in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Dorchester aforesaid when he entered the service; that he was enrolled as a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Thomas Paine & Col. Gridley's Regiment -
: that he marched from said Dorchester to Roxbury when he was stationed - : that he served with other similar  of the regular troops; and Generals Washington & Gen. Ward of the regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle -
and at the end of his service received a discharge but not in writing - : that he left the service on or about Jan'y 8-1776 and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at said Dorchester - that he has reason to believe that about the first of August of said year the officers received continental commissions ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the twenty ninth day of January A. D. 1776, to the twenty first day of February A. D. 1776 twenty three days as a private - in the Massachusetts Militia - that he was residing at Dorchester when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Hopkins & Col. Samuel Robinson's Regt -
: that he marched from was stationed at Dorchester : that he served with other militia  of the regular troops; and
no regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle that at the end of his service he received a discharge discharge but not in writing and left the service on said 21- of Feby -
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of March A. D. 1778, to the seventh day of April A. D. 1778 1-mo-9 ds. as a Sergeant - in the Massachusetts Militia that he was residing at Dorchester aforesaid when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Lieut. Wm. Foster & Col. Paine's Regt.
: that he marched from said Dorchester to Boston when he was stationed - : that he served with other Militia  of the regular troops; and
no Generals & etc. of the regular officers were known to him; that he was in no battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge but not in writing and left the service on said 7th of April -

Timothy Foster of Dorchester in the County of Norfolk. I hereby certify & say - that I am the brother of Mr. Edward Foster an applicant for a pension under the late law. That in the year 1775 when my brother said Edward went into the army I was twelve years old & recollect that my brother went for eight months & I am very certain that he served out all his time - My father died that year - & as I think about the twenty seventh day of August - & I know that my brother was in the army when he died & for some months after but the exact time when he came home I cannot recollect. I have no doubt that my brother served out his eight months - he enlisted in May & I think came home again in the fore part of the winter following. I lived at my father's all the time & have ever since lived in Dorchester. And my brother always staid on all occasions that he served the eight months. I am the more certain that my brother was away that fall as we had many apples to pick & not having him to help me I hired the soldiers to pick apples.
Timothy Foster
Norfolk J. Oct. 5th. 1832
Then the Above named Timothy Foster made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him subscribed - & I further certify that he is a man of truth -
Abel Cushing Just of Peace
This deposition is answered by me
Isaac Cushing Judge of Probate
Samuel Haven.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Edward Foster
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We Abel Cushing and Wm Jacobs
residing in the town of Dorchester residing in Dorchester
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Edward Foster who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Abel Cushing Wm Jacobs
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Abel Cushing , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a — resident in the said Dorchester ; and that William Jacobs who has also signed the same is a resident in said Dorchester
and the credible persons ; and that their statement is entitled to credit. Sherman Leland Judge of Probate of the Court further certify that Abel Cushing is a justice of the peace for said county of Bristol & that the name signed to the certificate is the clerical hand of Sherman Leland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Haxon, Reg d of the court of Chatham do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Edward Foster , for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haxon

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C o 222 1/2
Edward Foster Norfolk County Massachusetts
Sept 1 Mr. 49 days Pilot 8- 23 "
23 11 23 23 283
26 67 2.55-
29.22
6.58
55.72
800 1.53 652
11 2/3 9.
30 ) 500 ( 16 4 30 200 180
Abel Cushing Dorchester Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Edward Foster  County of Norfolk  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 80 years 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In service from 8 May In 1775 up to 8 Decr 1776 - 8 - private Gen. Washington, Ward Capt. Thos. Prince, Col. Guild   In service from 29 Jan to 21 March February 1776 - - 23 private Capt. Hope Hall, Col. S. Robinson   In service from 1 March 1778 to 7 April 1778 - 1 9 Serg t Capt. Prince  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dorchester Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional, Documentary, 3 Witness certif s to be Credible - papers not properly attached  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not properly attached 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richd. H. Matthews Examining Clerk:

October 6, 1938
Mr. Elijah H. Owen 3011 West Philadelphia Avenue Detroit, Michigan
am BA-J/AWF Edward Foster S. 30421
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Edward Foster, born 1752 of Dorchester, Massachusetts, died about 1834.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 30421, based upon the military service of Edward Foster in the Revolutionary War.
Edward Foster, the son of Timothy and Abiel Foster, was born March 22, 1752 in Dorchester, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
While a resident of Dorchester, Massachusetts, Edward Foster enlisted May 8, 1775, served as private and sergeant in Captain Thomas Pierce's company in Colonel Gridley's Massachusetts regiment, was stationed at Roxbury, and was discharged January 8, 1776. He served as a private from January 29, 1776 until February 21, 1776 in Captain Hopestill Hall's company in Colonel Lemuel Robinson's Massachusetts regiment. He served from March 1, 1776 until April 7, 1776, as sergeant under Lieutenant William Foster in Colonel Pierce's Massachusetts regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 27, 1832, at which time he was a

resident of Dorchester, Massachusetts.
The soldier, Edward Foster, died August 31, 1834.
Timothy Foster, brother of the soldier, was born about 1763, and in 1832 was living in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he stated that their father died about August 27, 1775.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible data relative to family. It was not shown that the Lieutenant William Foster under whom Edward Foster served in 1778 was a relative.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person who received the last payment of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data-
Edward Foster Certificate #15620 Issued July 1, 1835 Rate $35.72 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Massachusetts Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

3011 West Philadelphia Ave
Detroit, Michigan
Aug 31, 1938
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.
Please advise if you can furnish information relative to the following Revolutionary soldier and his family: only man rec -
EDWARD FOSTER (1752-1834) of Dorchester, Mass, whose wife is said to have been Polly Blake.
Yours very truly
Elijah H. Owen
Elijah H. Owen

INVALID.
1938 Oct 6 - leich to Eliza H. Owen
Ref 30 421
File No. 30, 421
Edward Foster
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index: —Vol. 8 , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Edward Foster which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No clergyman certificate 3 Witnesses
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Documentary & living witnesses
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

ESSEX
Dear Department As asking to
Revolutionary Pension Papers —
Mp
222 1/2

The enclosed documents are herewith respectfully submitted. any communication respecting them can be directed to Abel Cushing Dorchester Mass. I have sent the papers in form of five similar applications but have not heard from them - may I know the reason -
Dorchester Feby - 9 - 1833 -
Respectfully Abel Cushing -